Psychological and Physiological Effects of Lighting: Looking at Lighting Design through the Third Eye (Pineal Gland)
My audience: Students aspiring to be Stage, Special Events and Film Lighting
Designers, Programmers, Video Game Designers, and also applies
to Architectural Lighting, Basic Retail Lighting, Exhibit or Art Gallery
Lighting Designers.
Psychological effect of lighting:
1) Focusing on the MIND.
2) It is based on developing a lighting plan that will support the Project, Director, Director of Photography - DP, Photographer and or the Client's desires.
3) It is accomplished by creating an atmospheric, environment or specialized theme for the lighting to support and be illuminated successfully.
* This is how the psychological effect of lighting is achieved and manipulated. Creating the illusion, special effects and all else required to balance or distort the illusion.
ILLUSION: Lighting is all about creating an atmosphere, the pineal gland located in the brain, the size of a pea, when it receives information from the atmospheric lighting, it sends out a signal to our body to produce a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is then generated, formed and released into the brain of the viewer. Even the lighting intensity and varying intensities of the light affects how much melatonin is generated and created. The more exposure to light, the more melatonin is released and our body is fully awake and in a state of Beta (active state of Being).
Creating an illusion focused on how the body naturally responds to Light as a Lighting Designer will have a greater IMPACT on the audience. Creating STIMULATION, excitement, manipulating the senses to an over or under exposure to BRIGHT LIGHTS or lights with angles, a forceful color temperature, strong visual textures and definitely when applicable on point timing.
Client’s and the Audience's Expectations: Now clients and the audience has more experience and exposure to high stimulating environments, this means lighting has to stay ahead of the game. Without lighting things can’t be seen.
Psychological effect of lighting:
1) Focusing on the MIND.
2) It is based on developing a lighting plan that will support the Project, Director, Director of Photography - DP, Photographer and or the Client's desires.
3) It is accomplished by creating an atmospheric, environment or specialized theme for the lighting to support and be illuminated successfully.
* This is how the psychological effect of lighting is achieved and manipulated. Creating the illusion, special effects and all else required to balance or distort the illusion.
ILLUSION: Lighting is all about creating an atmosphere, the pineal gland located in the brain, the size of a pea, when it receives information from the atmospheric lighting, it sends out a signal to our body to produce a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is then generated, formed and released into the brain of the viewer. Even the lighting intensity and varying intensities of the light affects how much melatonin is generated and created. The more exposure to light, the more melatonin is released and our body is fully awake and in a state of Beta (active state of Being).
Creating an illusion focused on how the body naturally responds to Light as a Lighting Designer will have a greater IMPACT on the audience. Creating STIMULATION, excitement, manipulating the senses to an over or under exposure to BRIGHT LIGHTS or lights with angles, a forceful color temperature, strong visual textures and definitely when applicable on point timing.
Client’s and the Audience's Expectations: Now clients and the audience has more experience and exposure to high stimulating environments, this means lighting has to stay ahead of the game. Without lighting things can’t be seen.
Direct
light creates that stimulation, directly affecting the senses straight on. We need stimulation
in lighting, the excitement and keeping the senses engaged in Entertainment
lighting. In order to compete with the industry of entertainment in general.
Indirect light creates calm, suspense or curiosity playing on the senses via emotions and feelings. Can be used effectively to give the senses a break from being too over-stimulated. Creating a balance.
Indirect light creates calm, suspense or curiosity playing on the senses via emotions and feelings. Can be used effectively to give the senses a break from being too over-stimulated. Creating a balance.
- Angle (creates shaping, visual interest and enhances
stimulation)
- Visual texture (using patterns or images)
- Color temperature (warm or cool)
- Timing (movement and changes)
* Avatar Boat Ride, 2017 Copyrighted: Disney FUTURISTIC, beauty, calm, engaging, curiosity through discovery and relaxing as the water element is naturally calming.
* Dark of the Moon, 2002 Valencia PAC. Barren, Witchy, Edgy, Conflict, Eerie and Intense.
* Unheard Of, 2001 by Young Artist United, (Fordham University Lincoln Center students project) NYC
Photo depicts a nuclear bomb explosion. Lighting shows visual textures, lighting angels casted steep shadows and enhanced the overall experience of the suggestive explosion that happened without sound.
1) Color temperature (Avatar), Angle (Dark of the Moon), and Visual Texture (Unheard Of).
* Dark of the Moon, 2002 Valencia PAC. Barren, Witchy, Edgy, Conflict, Eerie and Intense.
* Unheard Of, 2001 by Young Artist United, (Fordham University Lincoln Center students project) NYC
Photo depicts a nuclear bomb explosion. Lighting shows visual textures, lighting angels casted steep shadows and enhanced the overall experience of the suggestive explosion that happened without sound.
1) Color temperature (Avatar), Angle (Dark of the Moon), and Visual Texture (Unheard Of).
4) Visual Texture is depicted in the photos be it a visual gradient or created by a steel pattern.
Tempest, Proof and Tempest productions all presented in the Valencia Blackbox Theatre.
Tempest, Proof and Tempest productions all presented in the Valencia Blackbox Theatre.
Timing is truly effective when done with precision. The pineal body is also very intuitive and sharp to precision, as it works in conjunction to what it hears, sees, emotes and receives as the light source is executed. The greater the detail and precision to the timing of a cue the greater the IMPACT, IMPRESSION and OVERALL EXPERIENCE it is on the audience. Here is an example from Downtown Disney Pleasure Island night club MANNEQUINS DANCE PALACE. Where TIMING IS EVERYTHING!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmHHQLiWDac
4:35 - 5:45 time to video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmHHQLiWDac
4:35 - 5:45 time to video
PINEAL GLAND
PHYSIOLOGY effects of lighting to the senses:
1) Focus on the senses via the pineal gland.
2) Less lighting means less production of the hormone melatonin and the body naturally begins to slow down. This is where the decreased production of the hormone begins to communicate to the body, via the brain to prepare for relaxation, to get calmer, or for bed. This is why some people can not stay awake one an environment is dimly lit and comfortable, Naturally the due to this decrease in hormone production of melatonin.
3) Melatonin is a receptor, it acts like an antenna. So it just follows directions on what the brain is receiving. It is influenced by light exposure and bright light at best.
4) This bridge from the psychological to the physiological is how the pineal gland's affect on the brain, SETS THE MOOD.
5) Our mood or moods are influenced by our surrounding environments. This is why cue lines at Theme Parks and most of the Walt Disney World Lighting Designers work within the concepts of how to use the psychological and physiological effect of how lighting impacts the audience experience.
2) Less lighting means less production of the hormone melatonin and the body naturally begins to slow down. This is where the decreased production of the hormone begins to communicate to the body, via the brain to prepare for relaxation, to get calmer, or for bed. This is why some people can not stay awake one an environment is dimly lit and comfortable, Naturally the due to this decrease in hormone production of melatonin.
3) Melatonin is a receptor, it acts like an antenna. So it just follows directions on what the brain is receiving. It is influenced by light exposure and bright light at best.
4) This bridge from the psychological to the physiological is how the pineal gland's affect on the brain, SETS THE MOOD.
5) Our mood or moods are influenced by our surrounding environments. This is why cue lines at Theme Parks and most of the Walt Disney World Lighting Designers work within the concepts of how to use the psychological and physiological effect of how lighting impacts the audience experience.
Lastly, this video demonstrates the POWER, INTENSITY, and IMPACT lighting can have in a scene as a supporting character. It must be conducive to the dynamics of the piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLXUn_s8nM4
Equilibrium Movie 2002 - In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminate war by suppressing emotions, books, art, animals and music. All of which are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLXUn_s8nM4
Equilibrium Movie 2002 - In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminate war by suppressing emotions, books, art, animals and music. All of which are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death.